About me

Hi there :)
My name is Zettie! Originally from Illinois, I'm an artist, singer, and climate activist, and love being outside, learning, and spending time with loved ones. I'm a childcare provider with a deep love for children and play. I have 13 years of childcare experience in many roles, including Director of Camper Care at an overnight camp, wilderness leader, preschool teacher, camp counselor, tutor, assistant 5th grade teacher, nanny, and more. I've worked with infants through teens, and love them all :)

Babysitting is not a passive job--that's what I love about it! I am loving, playful, responsible, imaginative, resourceful, and engaging. I enjoy creative activities with kids: building things, singing, art, and cooking. I am very passionate about games, goofiness, social justice, stories, experiencing nature, adventures, and making art and community.

My remarkably successful strategy with kids is to treat them like the full humans that they are. Just like adults, kids want to feel safe, heard, to have agency and structure, and to feel loved! I've been a peer counselor for the past 8 years, and have excellent listening and support skills, which I've used to build incredible relationships with the young ones I work with. I've been trained in teaching children problem-solving, and in non-violent communication techniques. I actively employ both while working with children. It is important to empower kids to help themselves, while providing assistance when necessary. This teaches them many important skills necessary over the course of their lifetimes!

I'm a college graduate, CPR/First Aid certified, a lifeguard, Servsafe certified (the certification necessary for food safety meal preparation), Wilderness First Aid certified, and have a driver's license with extensive experience driving for families and camp groups. I love to cook and held a position as head cook for an 85-person brunch in college! I am also very experienced with cooking for people with dietary needs and food restrictions! I'm more than happy to help families outside of childcare by tidying up and helping with errands. I'd love to chat more about working with you-- please feel free to reach out :)